Mobile: Balanced Hanging Sculpture (Part 3)

Practice balance in this art lesson: mobile: balanced hanging sculpture (part 3).

🎨 Studio Brief #28

Build a hanging mobile inspired by Alexander Calder.

🎯 Your mission

Make something that fits in your palm — perfectly.

⚡ The twist

Build it bigger than feels comfortable.

What you'll learn

Build a hanging mobile inspired by Alexander Calder. Mobiles balance shapes at different heights that move gently with air currents.

Get ready

Techniques you'll practise

balancekinetic sculpturespatial design

Found objectsSculpting clayWire armature

Step 1 of 3

Cut shapes from cardstock or thin wood: circles, stars, crescents, organic forms.

Step 2 of 3

Paint or decorate each shape on both sides (both sides will be visible).

Step 3 of 3

Attach shapes to strings of varying lengths. Tie strings to thin dowels or wire.

Did you know?

🤯 Mind = Blown

🤯 The oldest known sculpture is 35,000 years old — a tiny mammoth carved from ivory.

🌟 Artist Spotlight

🎨 The Terracotta Army has 8,000 clay soldiers — every face is different.

You did it!

🎯

We'll pick an art project that matches exactly where your skills are right now.

✨ More to explore

🌍 Where you see this: Pots, cups, sinks, statues — anything you can hold started as squishy stuff.

🏆 Try this week: Sculpt with playdough or even mashed potato. The tool doesn't matter.

👨‍👩‍👧 At dinner: “Tell me about the part of your sculpture you're proudest of.”

Send it to a parent looking for a 15-minute screen-free creative win.